What is the recovery time for a torn Achilles?

The answer to this question can vary based on several factors. Generally, you won’t be able to start moving the affected tendon until between two and six weeks after your injury. A completely torn Achilles tendon could take up to a year to heal. 

Achilles tendon tears are common in athletes who play certain sports. It’s estimated that Achilles injuries affect about 1 million American athletes annually, and they also affect 18 in every 100,000 members of the general population every year. Physical therapists can help you learn about factors that can affect your torn Achilles tendon’s recovery time. These specialists can also help you reduce the overall recovery time for this injury. 

These factors can affect how much time your Achilles tendon tear recovery takes

The Achilles tendons are the largest and strongest tendons in the body. Generally, these tendons are about 6 inches long and 5 millimeters thick, and they can stand up to 1,100 pounds of force. 

Here are five factors that can affect the recovery time of an Achilles tendon tear: 

1. The fact that it’s a tendon — Tendons typically heal slower than muscles and other tissue. One reason is that they don’t get a large supply of blood, which limits how much oxygen and nutrients are available for healing.

2. Its size — In this case, bigger isn’t better. The sheer size of the Achilles tendon means that it takes longer to heal than other, smaller body structures. 

3. How severe your injury is — In general, a smaller, less severe tear will take less time to heal. Larger tears will need more recovery time. 

4. Surgery — In some cases, severe Achilles tears will require surgery to heal properly. This means that you’ll have to go through the process of surgery and then start your healing process. 

5. Not doing physical therapy — Physical therapy can help reduce recovery times for people with Achilles tendon ruptures. Typically, an effective therapy plan can have you back to your normal activities within four to six months. However, you won’t get this advantage if you elect not to go to physical therapy. 

Shorten the recovery time for your Achilles tendon tear with help from Advent PT

Would you like to decrease the time your Achilles tendon tear recovery takes? Our specialists at Advent Physical Therapy are ready and willing to help you meet this goal. We offer free screenings that can help determine the severity of your injury. Our physical therapists can work with doctors and surgeons to build you a therapy plan that’s personalized to your needs, and your therapy plan could include therapy methods such as: 

• Therapeutic exercises
• Soft tissue mobilization
• Dry needling
• Joint mobilization
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
• At-home care
• Virtual therapy

Contact our team today for more information about our treatment options for Achilles tendon injuries or to schedule an initial appointment.